Key-frame guide.



L. AVISUS.

KEY FRAME GUIDE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1912.

1,053,551, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD AVISUS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BRAMBACH PIANO COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

KEY-FRAME GUIDE.

Application filed. November 1, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEOPOLD Avlsos, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and-useful Key-Frame Guide, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for use in musical instruments, particularly grand pianos, for the purpose of insuring that whenever the key frame has been removed or tampered with in any way, it shall be restored exactly to the proper position for causing the hammers to strike the strings in the right place. As is well known, key frame guides on this class of pianos are made removable and when they are put back it is necessary to adjust them to such position that the hammers will strike the strings in the same place as before removal. This invention is designed to avoid all difficulty in this respect and to insure proper action bet-ween the hammers and strings.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of portion of a grand piano showing a preferred form of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation from the inside of a portion of the key strip, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the connection of the key frame and key strip.

The invention is shown as applied to an instrument provided with the usual removable key frame 10 supporting the keys 11 and action. The key frame is intended to be adjusted to the proper position with respect to the strings 12 so that the hammers 13 may strike the strings in the proper place. For this purpose the frame is provided with a notch 14 at the top and cleats 15 are secured in the casing in proper position to receive the lower flange under the notch. The frame 10, however, can be adjusted back and forth under the projection of the cleat.

On the front of the instrument is a key strip 16 held in by screws 17 extending up from the bottom and normally hiding the key frame and the lower parts of the keys. In accordance with this invention the key strip 16 is provided on the inner side thereof with two or more cavities 18 at the bottom thereof. Each of these cavities is provided with a plate 19 at the top projecting down over the side of the cavity for receiv- Patented Feb. 18,1913.

Serial No. 728,972.

ing the head 20 of a screw 21 behind it. This screw is provided with a collar 22 preferably integrally mounted thereon and between the head and the collar is a space 23 for receiving the edge of this plate 19. Two or more of these screws are used and each one is secured in the front edge of the key frame. If necessary, these screws can be adjusted to bring the key frame to the proper position but it is preferred to make them in the first place so that the collar 22 can be screwed up firmly against the face of the key frame or a notch or depression therein. \Vhen the key strip is removed after the screws 17 are taken out, the key frame can be removed bodily and any desired adjustments and repairs made. Then when it is desired to put the parts back, the plates 18 are inserted in the spaces 23 and the key frame and strip put back together, or the key frame can be placed in first and then the key strip lowered over it. The key frame will then be brought back or forward as may be necessary for the purpose of getting the key strip into proper position for receiving the screws 17 which fasten it in place. Then the key frame is locked in proper position squarely in the casing and causes the hammers to strike in the same place on the strings as before removal of the key frame. In this way much time is saved in placing the key frame back in position and this at extremely small expense. Moreover, the key frame can ordinarily be adjusted much more readily to proper position than has been the case heretofore.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction shown and described, but

What I do claim is 1. The combination with the key frame and strings for a piano and a key strip at the front thereof, of means for positively connecting the key frame with the key strip to locate the key frame in a definite position with respect to the strings.

2. In a grand piano, the combination with a removable key frame and a removable key strip at the front thereof, and means for fixing the key strip in a definite position on the casing, of readily detachable connections between the key frame and key strip for positioning the key frame with respect to the key strip.

3. In a piano, the combination of a key strip having a cavity 011 the lower part of the inner face thereof, and a plate extending down over the top of said cavity in the plane of the inner surface thereof, a key frame behind said strip, and bolts extending into my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEOPOLD AVISUS.

Witnesses MARK P. CAMPBELL, CHAS. F. MEUBSTATTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

